Eileen Fisher
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Eileen Fisher |
| Headquarters | Irvington, New York , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, United Kingdom |
Key people | Eileen Fisher (founder) |
| Products | Women's apparel |
Number of employees | 1200+ |
| Website | www |
Eileen Fisher (born June 6, 1951) is a prominent American fashion designer and businesswoman, recognized as the founder of the women's apparel label Eileen Fisher Inc.
Biography
Raised in Des Plaines, Illinois as the second child among seven siblings, Fisher's family emphasized funding her younger brother's higher education. Consequently, she self-financed her studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by working as a waitress. Originally pursuing a major in mathematics, she ultimately shifted her focus to interior design, completing her degree in 1972. The following year, Fisher relocated to New York City, where she worked in interior design and graphic arts before establishing her fashion enterprise. She has two children from her marriage to David Zweibel and currently lives in Irvington, New York.
Company
Eileen Fisher Inc. is an American privately owned fashion brand launched in 1984 by Eileen Fisher with an initial investment of $350. Her first significant order at a New York apparel exhibition amounted to $3,000, which grew to $40,000 in sales within three months. The brand’s inaugural retail location opened in 1986 on East 9th Street in Manhattan.
The company’s revenue increased from $144 million in 2002 to $154 million in 2003, eventually surpassing $300 million by 2015. In 2003, approximately 35% of its garments were produced domestically in the United States, with the balance manufactured in China under the SA8000 certification by Social Accountability International.
With a workforce exceeding 1,200 employees, Eileen Fisher operates over 56 stores across fifteen states within the U.S. Its international presence began with a Canadian store opening in Vancouver in 2011, followed by expansion into London in 2012. The brand’s distribution network encompasses more than 1,000 wholesale outlets alongside 68 retail locations.
To combat fabric waste and promote sustainability, Eileen Fisher introduced a clothing recycling initiative that allows customers to exchange gently worn items for a $5 gift certificate per garment. After professional cleaning, these pieces are resold, and the proceeds fund business grants for women as well as leadership development programs targeting young women.
See also
- List of fashion designers
- List of people from New York City
- List of University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign people
- List of New York companies
External links
- Official website
- How I Built This - Eileen Fisher (audio interview)